A NEW Tesco store has opened which managers hope will win new customers and also become a key supporter of local charities.

The store, on Calder Park, Preston Road, Chorley, will supply fresh food, household goods and other groceries and has also created new jobs in the area.

Store manager Andrew Smith hopes that this will prove to be a boost for customers and the local economy after the difficulties caused by the pandemic.

He said: "Although it has been a difficult time for many, we’re hugely excited to be opening our Chorley Express store.

"It will provide a real boost for the area, creating 13 new jobs, helping to employ and train local people.

"We’re also excited about encouraging our customers to take part in our community initiatives too by voting in store for local good causes that can benefit financially from our Tesco’s Community Grants scheme."

The community grants scheme will see charitable groups around Chorley and from further into East Lancashire invited to apply for funding.

Customers at the new branch will have the opportunity to vote on which projects they would like to see receive money with a first place prize of £2,000, a second place prize £1,000 and third place prize of £500 given out every three months.

Mr Smith says that the store will also donate surplus food via the Tesco Community Food Connection scheme which the company runs in partnership with food charity FareShare.

The Chorley Express store's contribution will come as part of a nationwide campaign that sees the supermarket chain redistributes surplus food from its stores to charities all across the UK.

According to the company, 141,323 meals have already been donated in the Chorley area through Community Food Connection since the scheme began in 2015.

Mr Smith and his colleagues hope that a stronger local presence will hope to add to this total significantly.

The Calder Park branch is now open for business.